Chronic Illness Minor

The interdisciplinary minor in chronic illness prepares students from any major to understand and respond to the impacts of chronic illness on the individual, family, the health care system, and society. Knowledge and strategies to address the prevention and the management of chronic illness across its trajectory will enhance the skills and abilities of students who plan to practice in any profession. The minor is open to all undergraduate students at JMU. The minor requires a minimum of 18 credits with no more than 6 credits in the student’s major counting toward the minor.

Steps to Declare Chronic Illness Minor

1. Consult with your academic advisor regarding the feasibility of your workload to complete the minor in addition to your major requirements.
1. Declaring a Chronic Illness minor:Log into MyMadison, select Student Center.
2. Select Major/Minor Change from the “Other Academic…” dropdown menu.
3. To add a program of study select Add Major/Minor - Choose Chronic Illness asyour plan.
4. After all requests are entered select Submit Request.
2. Deadlines for submission of the Application to Declare a Chronic Illness Minor are due to the Chronic Illness Minor Coordinator by:
1. The last day of September for fall registration for the Spring term.
2. The last day of February for spring registration for the Fall term.

Course Requirements for the Chronic Illness Minor

Core Classes (all majors required to take; no pre or co-requisites for either course):

• NSG 390: Impact of Chronic Illness (3 credit hours)
• NSG 391: Living Successfully with Chronic Illness (3 credit hours)

*** Students completing the Nursing major must plan to take both NSG 390 and 391 prior to starting major courses

Required elective credits:

Non-nursing majors:
A total of 12 elective credits is required. Up to 6 credits of relevant coursework can be applied as electives with permission of the chronic illness minor advisor.

Nursing Majors: Students completing the nursing major should select 6 credits.
NOTE: Not all elective courses are offered each semester.

• EXED 306: Lifespan Issues for Individuals with Disabilities (3 credit hours)
• GERN/SOCI 280: Social Gerontology (3 credit hours)
• GERN 305: Programs and Services for the Elderly (3 credit hours) *GERN/SOCI 280 is a pre-requisite
• IPE 415/NSG 415: Ethical Decision Making: an Interprofessional Approach (1 credit hour)
• KIN 424/NUTR 455 Exercise and Nutrition in Chronic Disease (3 credit hours)
• PSYC 304: Death and Dying: Thanatology (3 credit hours)
• SOWK 332: Community Mental Health Practice (3 credit hours)
• SOWK 442: Social Work in Health Care (3 credit hours) *SOWK 332 is a pre-requisite
• NSG 301 (formerly NSG 490): Chronic Illness Narratives (2 credit hours)
• NSG 302 (formerly NSG 490): Behavioral and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents (2 credit hours)
• NSG 306 (formerly NSG 490): Combating Childhood Obesity (1 credit hour)
• NSG 308 (formerly NSG 490): Empowerment and Resilience
• NSG 310: Helping Persons in Pain (2 credit hours)
• NSG 318 (formerly NSG 490): Nursing, Chronic Illness and Health in a Global Context (2 credit hours)
• NSG 319 (formerly NSG 490): Understanding Sexuality across the Health-Illness Continuum (2 credit hours)
• NSG 320: Innovative Diabetes Health Education (1 credit hour)
• NSG 322: Integrative Health Care (2 credit hours)
• NSG 326: Care and Consideration for Children with Special Needs (1 credit hour)
• NSG 328: Life, Death and the "Dash" Between (1 credit hour)
• NSG 329: Best Practices in Diabetes Care (2 credit hours)
• NSG 368 (formerly NSG 490): Addiction Treatment Strategies (2 credit hours); 357, 357L pre-requisite
• NSG 393 (formerly NSG 490): Issues in Family Violence (1 credit hour)
• NSG 490: Environmental Health and You (2 credit hours)
• NSG 490: Medical Innovations, (3 credit hours)
• IPE 490: Issues and Applications of Family Caregiving (1 credit hours, may be taken twice)
• NSG 490/HHS 490: Exploring Universality and Diversity in Promoting Health; Costa Rica (2 credit hours)

*Special topic courses or other courses not listed can be applied to the minor with the approval of the minor coordinator. Courses must have a strong correlation with chronic illness.

Benefits of the Chronic Illness Minor

• The prevalence of chronic illness will continue to increase in both the young and old. As the U.S. population ages, knowledge and strategies to manage chronic illness are increasingly important for students in many professions.
• The more you know about the prevention and management of chronic illness the more likely you can positively influence these life changing conditions. When a chronic illness cannot be prevented it can be managed to reduce the impact and improve the health of the individual and the overall health of society.
• The greatest proportion of the United States and a large proportion of other countries health care dollar are directed to those with chronic illness. The more you know how these monies are managed the more valuable you can be to an employer.
• With the increasing complexity of healthcare knowledge and specialization in a variety of disciplines, no one healthcare professional can meet the complex needs of patients with chronic illness. In the environment of specialization, communication across disciplines would naturally decrease. This dilemma can be reduced through a better understanding of the interdisciplinary approach. The interdisciplinary education gives the student the opportunity to view chronic illness through a variety of perspectives. The knowledge will better prepare the individual to work collaboratively to better deal with the issues associated with chronic illness.
• A minor will provide a way to focus additional academic work that complements the nursing major.

FAQ About the Chronic Illness Minor

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Questions about the Minor? Contact:

• Christina Lam PhD, RN
• Chronic Illness Minor Coordinator
• School of Nursing
• James Madison University
• Health and Behavioral Studies Building Office 4074
• Email: Russelck@jmu.edu
• Office Hours: Mon 1200-1400; Wed 1330-1500